How to Use PayPal without a Credit Card

Last Updated: March 21, 2016 - 1:39 EDT

At Techboomers, we realize that some of our users don’t have credit cards, or don’t feel comfortable with entering their credit card details into PayPal. Fortunately, there’s good news: you don’t need a credit card to use PayPal! As long as you have a bank account, PayPal will still work; it needs one or the other to operate (though you can use both, if you like).

To use PayPal without a credit card:

Begin creating a PayPal account.

Click I’d Rather Link My Bank Account First.

Click on your bank’s logo.

Enter your bank card number and online banking password.

Or, enter your bank’s details from a cheque from your bank.

Link your bank account, and then click I’ll Link My Card Later.

Verify your email address.

Like when you set up your PayPal account with a credit card, making a PayPal account with just your bank account still takes quite a bit of information and work. Knowing that, we included a full set of instructions below, to show you exactly what you need to do.

Detailed instructions for how to open a PayPal account without a credit card

In other words, follow steps 1 through 4 in our How to Make a PayPal Account tutorial here.

2. Choose to link your bank account first.

When you are asked to link your credit or debit card to PayPal, click I’d Rather Link My Bank Account First.

3. Select your bank.

Next, you will have to select which bank you have an account with. Click on its logo, or click on I Have a Different Bank if your bank’s logo does not appear here.

4. Enter your online banking credentials.

The easiest way to link your bank account to your PayPal account is if you have a debit or convenience card from your bank, and are also set up to complete transactions with them online.

Click in the box labelled “Card Number” and type in the number on your bank convenience/debit card. Then click in the box labelled “Password” and type in the password to your online banking profile. Then click Link Bank Account Instantly.

If you don’t have a convenience/debit card from your bank, and/or aren’t set up to be able to complete transactions with them online, click Link with Bank Account Number, and proceed to step 5. Otherwise, skip to step 6.

5. Enter your bank credentials from a cheque.

(NOTE: if you were able to complete step 4, then you can skip this step.)

To link your bank account with PayPal without using a convenience/debit card and your online banking profile, you will need a cheque issued by your bank.

First, click the corresponding button at the top of the window to select your “Chequing” or “Savings” account. Then, click in each of the boxes below that and type in:

the cheque’s transit number

your bank’s institution number

your account number

your bank’s name

(NOTE: The illustration above these boxes will show you where each of these numbers are on the cheque.)

The bank chain that you have currently selected will be displayed below this (it isn’t here though, for privacy reasons). If it’s not correct, click Choose a Different Bank and go back to step 3.

On the other hand, if all of your information is correct, click Link Bank and Continue.

6. Link your bank account, and skip linking your credit card.

PayPal will electronically contact your bank and search to see if your account exists. If it does, PayPal will display it in the next window. Click Link, and then click Continue.

If you are asked to link your credit or debit card to your PayPal account as well, just click I’ll Link My Card Later (and click the button that appears after this).

7. Confirm your email address for PayPal.

The last thing you will need to do is verify your account through email; this will allow you to receive money from other people using PayPal. To start, go to your email client and log in. Find the email from PayPal Service titled “Welcome to PayPal” and click on it to open it. From there, just click the blue Yes, This is My Email Address button in the email.

You will need to enter your PayPal account password to complete confirmation of your email address. Click in the box labelled “Password” and type in the password that you picked to protect your PayPal account. Then click Confirm My Email Address.

Okay! You’re all set to use PayPal, and you didn’t have to enter your credit card information!